The anti-corruption commission said that it also arrested four other individuals, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Kabawa, over the drug supply scam.
Garba Kwankwaso, the Managing Director of Novomed Pharmaceuticals and nephew of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) national leader and former presidential candidate, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, has been arrested by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with the alleged N9.150 million drug supply fraud in the state.
The anti-corruption commission said that it also arrested four other individuals, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mohammed Kabawa, over the drug supply scam.
Also arrested and detained are Abdullahi Bashir, Chairman of the state branch of the Association for Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman of Tauroni Local Government Area (LGA).
The suspects are accused of colluding to award a contract to Novomed for the supply of drugs to 38 LGAs in the state, in violation of public procurement laws.
Preliminary investigations revealed that each of the 38 LGAs paid Novomed N9.150 million for the drugs, which were never delivered.
A source familiar with the investigation said, “We have 44 LGAs in the state, and they managed to collect N9.150 million from 38 councils for drugs that were not supplied.”.
The source also mentioned that all suspects are cooperating with the commission’s investigation team.
Kabiru Kabiru, the commission’s public relations officer, confirmed the arrests and stated that the investigation is ongoing.
He emphasised that the commission is working to uncover the full extent of the alleged scam and ensure those responsible are brought to justice. At the time of reporting, the suspects remain in the commission’s custody.
The Commission had launched investigations into the allegations of the multi-million naira procurement fraud, as well as a case of alleged mismanagement of the Nigerian government palliatives.
Kwankwaso’s nephew, Musa’s company, Novomed Pharmaceuticals, was allegedly awarded a contract to supply drugs to the 44 local government areas of the state.
The contract, said to have been awarded without due process, involves each local government paying about N9 million monthly, amounting to N396 million in total every month.
The scandal came to the fore when Bello Galadanchi, a United States-born Nigerian filmmaker and content creator, alleged that the state government directed each of the 44 local government councils to pay about N10 million for the drug supply, with the contract awarded exclusively to Novomed Pharmaceuticals.
According to Galadanchi, 25 local governments, including Tofa, Bebeji, Dambatta, Dawakin Tofa, Doguwa, Kumbotso, Tudun Wada, Gezawa, Ungogo, Warawa, Ajingi, Kabo, Kura, Madobi, Bichi, Gwarzo, Rogo, Garun Mallam, Takai, Shanono, Kiru, Makoda, Nasarawa, and Gabasawa, have already made payments for August to the company’s account.
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